At the Q3 2025 briefing, Fort Worth EDP highlighted major corporate wins, expanding industries, and a newly-funded campaign designed to attract the next wave of investment.
By Katie McConnell, Associate | Tuesday, September 9, 2025
The Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership (the Fort Worth EDP) gathered investors and stakeholders last month at Cook Children’s for its Q3 2025 Investor Briefing. The event highlighted a series of landmark economic development wins, examined trends shaping the city’s business recruitment strategy, and announced a new lead generation campaign made possible by local public-private collaboration.
The program opened with remarks from Natalie Wilkins, Vice President of Operations at Cook Children’s—a local health care institution with deep and generational investment in the community and its own innovation and growth. She was followed by Robert Allen, President & CEO of the EDP, who underscored the long-game nature of economic development. Allen remarked that it takes persistence, strategy, funding, and patience—but it also takes agility and hustle to strike while the iron is hot.
Celebrating Strategic Wins
Allen spotlighted three major company announcements that have helped accelerate Fort Worth’s momentum in 2025. First, Torc, a Daimler Truck subsidiary, launched its first autonomous truck hub at Hillwood’s AllianceTexas. Trucks departing daily from Fort Worth to Laredo will serve as the anchor of Torc’s on-road testing and freight operations, cementing the city’s role in the future of autonomous logistics. Second, Siemens, the global electronics manufacturer, celebrated the opening of its $190 million, 500,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in south Fort Worth earlier this year—an investment that will add 800 jobs by 2026 and accounts for nearly one-third of the company’s U.S. critical infrastructure commitment. And finally, MTU Maintenance, the German aerospace company, announced a $120 million expansion at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport under a new 30-year lease with the City of Fort Worth. The project will create approximately 1,200 skilled jobs, further solidifying Fort Worth’s global leadership in the most sophisticated aircraft engine maintenance.
Allen explained how these projects reflect Fort Worth’s strength across three of Fort Worth’s target industries—mobility, aerospace and defense, and anchors & innovators. Representatives from the companies were introduced to the EDP briefing attendees, and Robert emphasized the importance of nurturing long-term relationships with corporate leaders to ensure that these new investments are rooted in the Fort Worth community.
Building the Business Recruitment Model
Spencer Mitchell, Vice President of Economic Development, provided an update on the EDP’s business recruitment efforts. Since 2023, the organization has progressed from assessing market opportunities to refining target industries, building a prospective company evaluation tool, and enhanced its Why Fort Worth webpage with new data and information.
Mitchell highlighted a new corporate recruitment targeting model developed by the EDP to identify and pursue high-potential companies for relocation and expansion.
Announcing a New Lead Generation Campaign
In one of the day’s most significant announcements, the EDP revealed that the Fort Worth Local Development Corporation will be financially supporting a lead generation campaign for business recruitment across Fort Worth. The initiative, which will launch in early 2026, will pair digital advertising with direct outreach to site consultants, corporate real estate brokers, and target companies. Allen described the campaign as a chance to turn up the volume on Fort Worth’s story, positioning the city in front of decision-makers on a national scale.
Allen concluded by inviting investors to engage directly in the work—by sharing company leads, offering testimonials, and acting as ambassadors for Fort Worth’s message.
Fort Worth’s Investment in Economic Development is Bearing Fruit
The briefing concluded with a sense of momentum, optimism, and partnership. From autonomous trucking and aerospace expansion to a bold new recruitment campaign, Fort Worth is demonstrating not only the ability to win transformative projects but also the local investment from public and private stakeholders necessary to sustain and encourage them.
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Katie McConnell is the Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership’s Associate. The Fort Worth EDP works directly with companies, site selection consultants, and corporate real estate professionals who are interested in moving or expanding to Fort Worth, Tarrant County, and the surrounding areas. If you’d like to learn more about Fort Worth, please schedule a meeting with us or check out our Why Fort Worth page.
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